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Originally Posted by Felicity
Per your post, Rodney, I think the "calibre" of home is a main issue. The lots are big, and there are square footage minimums for the constructions as well as a few things concerning natural tones and out buildings (although there are a few blue and green houses, and almost everyone has a shed)--so I think a major issue is maintaining similar sized houses and maintaining property values by having home plans "approved" before building.
Thanks!
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Well, that all makes sense if the developer isn't planning on building all the homes himself -- either because he doesn't want to, or can't afford to. If you're marketing lots to an upscale crowd, you want to assure them that the neighborhood they're building in will also be upscale, because nothing less than a home of a particular type will be tolerated. He's selling a certain kind of dream and, since he's not building it himself, he needs the HOA convenant to enforce that dream.
There's a very famous planned development on the north coast of California called Sea Ranch, in which everyone buys a lot and build their own home. _But_ all the aesthetics for the project were worked out in advance by the developer in consultation with a famous architect/artist, and all homes have to comply with those aesthetic rules to ensure that they continue the Sea Ranch look -- which, I must say, is pretty unique. The point being, you only buy a lot at Sea Ranch if you're ready to build a Sea Ranch-style house. And if fact, that uniform "look" is the selling point for the entire development.